NYSC Threatens Corp Member for Criticizing Tinubu's Government

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Lagos State has voiced her distress after receiving a threatening response from the NYSC board due to a recent social media post. In the post, she criticized the soaring prices of goods across the country.

In an emotional TikTok video shared via the handle @talktoraye, the corp member tearfully expressed her frustration about the soaring prices of essential goods, labeling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as “terrible” for its apparent inaction toward the economic crisis.

She stated in the video: “If more Nigerians spoke up about our struggles, perhaps the government would change. To our president, I don’t know if there’s ever been a worse leader than you—you are an utterly deplorable president.”

Sobbing, she went on to describe how the NYSC program has been more of a burden than a benefit, with her expenses far exceeding the stipend provided. “I just came back from the supermarket to buy food, and prices have spiked again. It’s like every week they go up. What is the government doing about this? Will prices ever stop rising? Why does a crate of eggs cost N6,500? It’s absurd—eggs used to be N800. I’m overwhelmed; this is my first time living away from my family.

“After the supermarket, I got home to find security and electricity bills have doubled—it’s outrageous. I can’t keep up. Every kobo I earn goes to bills. And if you want to go out with a friend, Uber costs N25,000. Why is everything so pricey?

“And to make matters worse, Lagos smells terrible. What is the government doing about the poor sanitation? As an NYSC member, I’ve gained nothing from this scheme. The transportation costs alone eat up more than the allowance we receive. It’s time we start holding the government accountable. Tinubu, you’re a terrible leader. What are you doing to fix this economy?”

Within 24 hours of posting the video condemning President Tinubu, she uploaded another, revealing that NYSC officials had contacted her. In one call, an official was heard saying, “Are you normal?” before demanding, “Be quiet and take down that video.” She added that multiple NYSC officials had called, urging her to stop criticizing the government and delete the post.

She added: “Why is she asking people to identify me? I’m not a criminal. I’ve gone through the NYSC rules, and I haven’t broken any of them. Tell the NYSC official to stop encouraging people to point me out. At this point, her actions are becoming intimidating and unsettling.”

Among those who praised the NYSC corp member for her courage in speaking out against the government was former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Atiku Abubakar commended Raye for her bravery, hailing her as a representation of a new wave of politically active women dedicated to advocacy and strengthening democratic engagement.